1. Give Me Liberty
Causes of the American Revolution

2. Sketch of Baltimore Harbor, 1752
During the early years of settlement, England ignored its colonies.
Under the Navigation Acts, the colonists could trade only with England.
Colonists resented England’s control of the colonies because they were used to being left alone.
Sketch of Baltimore Harbor, 1752

3. The first meeting of the Virginia Assembly
Colony founders knew they must guarantee rights and good government if they were going to attract colonists.
Virginia colonists created the House of Burgesses which was the first representative assembly in the Americas.
By 1750 each of the 13 colonies had an elected assembly.
The first meeting of the Virginia Assembly

4. North American land claims, 1753
Britain and France were intense rivals in the struggle for North America.
In the 1750s the center of colonial conflict was the Ohio River Valley.
British officer George Washington was sent to build a fort on the river but was defeated by the French before he could.
Native Americans became French allies because it appeared the French would win the war.
North American land claims, 1753

5. Taking of Quebec by English forces during the French and Indian War
The French and Indian war went badly for the British colonies until Captain James Wolfe took Quebec in 1759.
The British finally won three years later.
Taking of Quebec by English forces during the French and Indian War

6. North American land claims, 1763
Great Britain became the most powerful nation in the world.
The enlarged empire meant conflicts with Native Americans in the Ohio River Valley.
To avoid problems, Britain issued the Proclamation of 1763 which did not allow colonists to cross the Appalachian Mountains.
Colonist were infuriated because they did not like being told where they could and could not go.
North American land claims, 1763

7. British officials expected colonists to help pay for their defense.
In order to enforce the Proclamation of 1763 and keep peace with Native Americans, a permanent British army was stationed in America.
British officials expected colonists to help pay for their defense.
The colonists did not like the presence of the army, nor having to pay for the troops’ support.
King George III

8. The French and Indian War
Explanation
Britain needed money to finance war with France.
Reaction/ Result
Britain imposed taxes on the colonists without their consent to pay for the war.

9. Proclamation of 1763 Explanation
Britain wanted to avoid conflict with Native Americans, so Colonists were forbidden to cross Appalachian Mountains.
British Army stationed in the colonies
Reaction/ Result
Colonists were angered because of British presence and being told what to do

10. Sugar Act
Explanation
Tax on sugar and molasses; designed by George Grenville to stop smuggling; taxed tea was cheaper than
Smuggled tea;
Suspects tried
In military
Courts
Reaction/ Result
Did not affect many, but the idea of taxes a growing issue

11. Stamp Act
Explanation
Tax on legal documents, newspapers, wills, and basically every piece of paper used; a stamp was placed on the paper
Reaction/ Result
Stamp Act Congress formed to organize boycott
Sam Adams organized Sons of Liberty
Eventually repealed

12. Quartering Act Explanation
Colonists had to provide food, housing, blankets, candles, etc. for the British soldiers
Reaction/ Result
This was hated, but little could be done

13. Townshend Acts Explanation Reaction/ Result
Tax on various imported household items such as paper, glass, lead, silk, and tea
Reaction/ Result
Colonists boycott through the non-importation agreement (Daughters of Liberty)
Eventually repealed, except TEA TAX – led to Boston Tea Party

14. The Boston Massacre Explanation Reaction/ Result
A rioting mob confronted British soldiers at the Boston Customs House
Tensions rose and shots were fired into the crowd, killing five colonists
Reaction/ Result
Sam Adams used the opportunity to whip up anti-British feeling by calling the event a massacre
Two soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter, six were found not guilty

15. Tea Act
Explanation
Tea merchants in the colonies were cut out of the tea trade because the British East India Company was given a monopoly on the tea trade and they lowered their tea prices . The company monopolized, or controlled, tea sales in the colonies.
British East India Company
Reaction/ Result
Boston Tea Party

16. Boston Tea Party Explanation Reaction/ Result Intolerable Acts
On December 16, 1773, the Sons of Liberty dumped 90,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor.
This was an act of civil
disobedience:
That means
people break a
law on purpose to try to protest it and
get it changed.
Reaction/ Result
Intolerable Acts

17. Intolerable Acts Explanation Punishment for Boston Tea Party
Colonists could not hold town meetings
Port of Boston closed
Customs officials tried in Britain
Reaction/ Result
First Continental Congress meets
Individual colonies began to unify

18. Other Acts and Events

19. “No taxation without representation!”
“Taxation without representation is tyranny”
Explanation
Colonists had no representatives to speak for them in Parliament
Reaction/ Result
Colonists resented not having a say in their own affairs
Became a rallying cry

20. Writs of Assistance Reaction/ Result Explanation
Customs officers could search ships or homes at will; document allowed soldiers to search anywhere for smuggled goods
Reaction/ Result
Few colonists affected, but merchants felt this was an invasion of privacy

21. The Declaratory Act Explanation Reaction/ Result
The same day the Stamp Act was repealed, Parliament passed the Declaratory Act. It said Parliament had the right to make any law it wanted for the colonies, “in all cases whatsoever.”
Reaction/ Result
Most Patriots weren’t even aware the law was passed. They were celebrating the repeal of the Stamp Act and they overlooked the passage of the Declaratory Act.

22. Chronology of Events French and Indian War- 1754-1763
Proclamation of
Sugar Act- 1764
Stamp Act- 1765
Writs of Assistance- 1767

23. Chronology of Events Townshend Acts- 1767 Quartering Act- 1770
Boston Massacre- 1770
Tea Act/ Boston Tea Party- 1773
Intolerable Acts- 1774